Disposable thermometer

ABSTRACT

A disposable clinical thermometer for single usage which includes a carrier layer and a plurality of individual temperature-indicating elements distributed over at least one surface of the carrier layer; each element having a temperature indicating marking thereon and a fuseable organic material coating normally concealing the marking, but fuseable at a predetermined temperature, the fuseable material being displaceable to expose the marking to view.

United States Patent m1 3,631,720

[72] Inventors Berel Weinstein 2,614,430 10/1952 Ballard 73/358 NewYork, N.Y.; 3,175,401 3/1965 Geldmacher 73/358 Zsigmond L. Sagi,Parsippany, NJ. 3,430,491 3/1969 Gignilliat 73/358 [21] Appl. No.868,410 3,465,590 9/1969 Kluth 73/358 ggf Primary Examiner-Louis R.Prince [73] Assignee Bio-Medical Sciences, Inc. Assistant Emfm'wfDemsNew York, NY. Attorney-Irving Seidman [54] DISPOSABLE THERMOMETERlclmm6nmwmg ABSTRACT: A disposable clinical thermometer for single [52]U.S.Cl 73/358 u age which includes a carrier layer and a plurality ofin- [51] Int. Cl .....G0lk 11/08 d i u l temperature-indicating elementsdistributed over at [50] Field of Search 73/358; least one surface ofthe carrier layer; each element having a 116/ 1 14.5 temperatureindicating marking thereon and a fuseable organic material coatingnormally concealing the marking, but

[56] References Cited fuseable at a predetermined temperature, thefuseable materi- UNITED STATES PATENTS al being displaceable to exposethe marking to view. 2,379,459 7/1945 Schreiber 73/358 11 //X I {bx //l(39G sC &\\\\\\\ M fl 1 Z/ 2) 16 ///////W w/ //////l//V/ V BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION Temperature-indicating devices have been proposed forclinical and other purposes, which are of the single usage, disposabletype. Said known devices are of relatively complex construction,expensive to manufacture and somewhat nonuniform in their operation.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improveddisposable thermometer construction, particularly for clinical use,which shows a high degree of temperature-in dicating accuracy; is ofminimal size and convenient to use; is readily disposable after use; andis of a simple, inexpensive construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved disposablethermometer of the character described, which comprises a thin flexiblecarrier member upon which is located a set of spaced temperatureindicating elements arranged in a predetermined spacing pattern and inconjunction with a series of temperature-indicating numerals forproviding temperature readings at 02 F. intervals; each of thetemperature-indicating elements including a thin disc of imperviousmaterial carrying a marking on one side thereof with a fuseable coatingenveloping the disc and normally concealing the marking; the coatinghaving a critical melting point whereby fusion of such coating will beeffective to reveal the marking.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of adisposable thermometer embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic showing of the top view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of the bottom view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a single temperature indicatingelement; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawing adisposable clinical thermometer embodying the invention is generallyindicated at 10. The same comprises a thin flexible rectangular memberhaving opposite surfaces 10A, 108. Such device is of minimal dimensionsand may be of the order of about 0.625 inch by 0.75 inch. The same isreadily inserted in the mouth to ascertain clinical temperatures.

The device 10 comprises a thin carrier sheet 11 of Mylar, celluloseacetate, or the like. A set of temperature indicating elements generallyshown at 12 are arranged in rows on each side of the carrier sheet 11.The elements 12 are located in proper array by way of a pair ofperforated sheets 13, 14 adhesively secured to the opposite sides ofcarrier sheet 11, thus the sheets 13, 14 have rows of perforations 15 toreceive elements 12 therein.

The elements 12 are adapted to respectively register the specifictemperatures at successive 0.2 F. intervals. For example, between 95 and104.8 F. there will be required a total of 50 elements 12 which aredistributed in groups of 25 on each of the sides 10A and 10B of thedevice. Conveniently the elements 12 are arranged in five rows of fiveelements each. For temperature indicating purposes, the carrier sheet 11is imprinted on surface 10A thereof with the temperature values 95 to 99inclusive adjacent one side edge 16 as the vertical column indicated at17, and with the temperature values of 100 to I04 inclusive on the othersurface 108 thereof, adjacent edge 16A, as at 18.

Each of the temperature indicating elements 12 comprise a small thindisc 20 of transparent cellophane or other impervious material. The disc20 are imprinted on one side thereof, as at 21, with the numerals 0, 2,4, 6 and 8 respectively, for indicating the 0.2 F. intervals for each ofthe whole temperature values of 95 to 104 F.

The individual imprinted discs 20 are dipped in a series of molten,nontoxic, organic material having precise melting points to fonn theenveloping cover 22. The organic materials are particularly selected tocover a range of melting points from 950 to l04.8 F. Such materials mayinclude:

4-phenoxy hutyl bromide 4-bromoiuoquinoline l'indanone 3,5 dimethoxyphenol 3,3 dimethoxy hiphenyl 2, nitro biphenyl hydroxy benzophenonep-diethylamino benuldehyde o anisaldehyde 2-chloro 6-nitrotoluenc Theforegoing organic materials are of a crystalline nature and are highlypurified by repeated crystallizing operations from appropriate solvents.Such crystallizing operations insure precise melting points for therespective materials with minimal deviations therefrom. In someinstances, two or more of the organic materials may be cocrystallized inorder to achieve desired specific melting points.

It will be apparent that the elements 12 will be selectively disposed inthe appropriate perforations 15 on the opposite sides 10A, 10B of device10, and in alignment with the imprinted numerals to 104 inclusive, so asto, in effect, provide for successive readings of temperature values, eg95.0, 95.2, 95.4, 95.6, 95.8, etc.

The elements 12 are retained in place in perforations 15 by transparentcover sheets 20A of cellophane or the like overlying the perforatedsheets l3, l4 and sealed to the carrier sheet 11 about the marginaledges thereof. The coatings 22 as applied to the individual discs 20 areof a transparent character. Accordingly, the devices 10 are passedthrough pairs of opposed crushing rollers, which are effective to powderthe coatings 22 somewhat, making the same opaque and concealing theimprinted FIGS. 21 thereof. The devices 10 may be provided with tabs 23for handling and insertion purposes.

In using the device 10 the same is placed in the mouth and retainedtherein for a time sufficient to register the temperature by virtue ofmelting the coatings 22 of the individual elements 12 in a range oftemperatures up to and including the temperature of the individual usingthe device 10. Upon melting the material 22 the fused material tends tobe laterally displaced and to thereby expose the imprint 21 thereon,thus upon removing thermometer device 10 from the mouth of the user, aquick examination of the opposite sides 10A, 10B thereof will reveal thehighest temperature value thereon, which will be a measure of theclinical temperature of the user.

It will be apparent that the device 10 being of minimal size may bereadily used and quickly disposed after such use. Further, the devicemay be available in roll form with each unit 10 being available bytearing the same along perforated separation lines between succeedingunits.

Alternatively, the individual devices 10 may be carried in separatesterilized cellophane containers, not shown, thus such containers may bereadily opened and the thermometer extracted therefrom for use at theappropriate time.

We claim:

1. A disposable clinical thennometer comprising a flat carrier member, aplurality of temperature indicating elements on at least one surface ofsaid carrier member, means for maintaining said elements in a spacedpattern relation to each other, and a transparent cover sheet overlyingsaid elements, each of said elements comprising an impermeable basemember, indicia on one surface of said base member, and an opaquecoating of fuseable organic material over said base member andconcealing said indicia, said coating being fuseable at a predeterminedtemperature and displaceable to expose said indicia to view through saidcover sheet, said temperature indicating element comprising a thin discof cellophane, a numeral being imprinted on one surface of said disc,said disc being enveloped in an opaque coating of fuseable crystallineorganic material.

